Who is to blame?

Many times people come across a situation in training their dog and they get frustrated when the dog will not obey. They blame the dog by yelling at it, giving physical corrections, an may even end the session in a bad mood. They blame the dog for its performance. We must get into the mindset that the blame is ours, not the dogs. We must realize that dogs do not have motives for their actions and are not doing something just to spite us. Most dogs truly want to please us, as that is a way for them to earn a reward. That reward is our praise, attention, affection, food or toy.

People need to learn that training a dog is not “cookie cutter” in style in which what works for one dog will work for another. Too many times I have heard that this style or that style or this particular method worked for many of the owners dogs, but not a particular one. Each dog is different with its own motivations, issues, strengths, and weaknesses. We have to be able to bend our training to the needs of the dog and not the other way around.

Learn to take a step back from the situation if the dog is having difficulty and ask yourself:

Does the dog truly grasp what am even asking of him? Or do I need to go back to basics. Going back to basics is not to be looked at as a bad thing, it is just something that the dog needs at that moment on this particular issue.

How can I make this exercise easier for my dog? Instead of trying to muscle your dog through something, try to be creative and figure out a way to make things simpler. A dog that can learn something more simply and give 5 correct responses is better off than the dog that gives 1 correct response because you forced him to comply. Remember, we are trying to get the response (sit, down etc) to become part of the dog’s “muscle memory”. The dog that receives a reward for doing something is more likely to do it again and again if it is rewarding to him. So make it easier for him to get that reward. Use that brain muscle not the arm muscle.

Never end your training session on a bad note. If you are having problems, then have the dog do something that is easy and end the session after giving him a big reward. Do not make training a negative for the dog. Always end on a high note and let that be the last thing the dog remembers about training, not that “daddy” or “mommy” is mad at me.

While taking business classes I learned of one of the differences between traditional American business and Japanese business. American style is to fix the blame, Japanese style was to fix the problem. In short, if the dog has an issue, then it is our fault for not being clearer or smarter. If the dog succeeds then it is the dog that should be praised. But dont forget to give yourself a little pat on the back also.